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Pep talk for referee 'rookies'

Refereeing

UEFA's new referees will get an insight into what is expected of them next week.

By Mark Chaplin

Europe's top referees will gather in Madrid next week for their annual UEFA courses - with many of them taking their first tentative steps at international level.

UEFA introduction
While the élite referees will be preparing for their forthcoming assignments in the UEFA Champions League knockout stages, and 12 of them are looking even further ahead to duty at UEFA EURO 2004™, the newcomers to the international list will get a comprehensive introduction to life as a UEFA match official.

Wealth of experience
They will also receive the traditional 'pep talk' by Michel Vautrot, UEFA Referees' Committee member and the French Football Federation's national technical director for refereeing. Vautrot has a wealth of experience as a former top international referee and referee administrator, and a regular feature of the UEFA courses is for the Frenchman to give a motivational lecture to the UEFA referee 'rookies'.

Serious message
This year's course will be no different. Vautrot will be urging the referees to manage matches through the force of their personality. His lecture will be humorous and entertaining - but beneath this, a serious message will be transmitted to the referees. Let your personality work for you on the field!

New career
"You can know all about the interpretation of the Laws of the Game in theory, and you might do an excellent Cooper fitness test - but it means nothing if your performance is not good on the pitch," Vautrot told the referees at last year's UEFA course week in Corfu. "You are also beginning a new stage of your career when you become a UEFA referee."

Stay natural
The new UEFA referees will be told to keep a relaxed demeanour on and off the field. "Stay natural, let your positive personality come through, because it will be noticed immediately if you are not being natural," Vautrot said.

First impression
UEFA referees are watched by everyone at games - not only by UEFA's delegates and observers who mark their performances, but also by clubs, players, fans and the media. Vautrot tells young referees that it is vital to make a positive early impression on the people they have to deal with. "You do not get a second chance to make a first impression," he said.

'Football intelligence'
There are laws on the field which referees have to observe, but a flexible approach must also be adopted in many cases. "You should have a feeling for the spirit of the game that you are refereeing, a feeling and understanding for the players. You should also have football intelligence, for example, to understand the teams' tactics," is Vautrot's message to new European match officials.

Quiet but strong
Another message that the UEFA newcomers will be given is to exude natural authority on the pitch. "Be quiet, but be strong and confident - it is not necessary to make everyone nervous. You must gain respect. Do not show doubt. Authority is not just having a FIFA badge, it should come from inside you as well," said Vautrot. He also stressed that confident body language and anticipation of events on the field are essential refereeing weapons.

Show respect, gain respect
A key weapon in a referee's armour is to learn, but not to copy. "You can learn from a Pierluigi Collina, but do not try to be like him, there is only one Collina. We are all different, so be yourself," Vautrot urged the referees in Corfu. "Think courage, confidence, vigilance and communication. And respect the other participants in a match, the players and coaches, because otherwise they cannot respect you."

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